496 GPS Removal

[Tony_T]

Originally Posted by Paris12Man

I've tried everything I can think of to remove the unit but no luck. I can release the lock on the left (pushing a rod through the small hole) but I just don't have enough clearance around the unit for it to come out one edge at a time. Soooooooo, (I didn't want to) I'm going to take the top of the instrument bay off and access in that fashion. I can guaranty you the next time the unit has to be updated, it will easily come out of the panel or I'll have an external connection port.

Thanks for the suggestions. Steve

Steve, I did not enlarge the hole in the center panel so as to be able to remove the Garmin GPS from the front. To open the front center panel enough to remove the Garmin leaves an unsightly gap. I normally plan to update it whenever (annual) I have the instrument cover off and take the GPS out, from the back, to take home to update. The problem with updating with an external connection is that Garmin pretty much requires that the thing be connected to a computer with internet connection which I don't have in or near my hangar. They are not as enlightened as Dynon in that regard. I have since purchased a new center panel and an Airgizmo for the GPS which allows you to simply remove it by pushing the button on the left side.

Now that I have installed a canopy lock I feel I can leave the airplane, brief periods anyway, without the GPS or the headset disappearing.

I have not installed this yet because of the hassle of pulling out the engine control and cabin heat cables. I am thinking about doing the Bill_H Center Panel Mod so the center panel can be removed without taking out the cables.

[Paris12Man]

Tony, thanks for the suggestion. I have already ordered a panel dock by Air Gizmos through Aircraft Spruce for the 496. I'll have to enlarge the hole, but it will be worth the effort when I need to update the unit again. Now I'm trying to think of "other things" to do since I have the top cover off.......?

[Dave12]

Originally Posted by Tony_T

Steve, I did not enlarge the hole in the center panel so as to be able to remove the Garmin GPS from the front. To open the front center panel enough to remove the Garmin leaves an unsightly gap. I normally plan to update it whenever (annual) I have the instrument cover off and take the GPS out, from the back, to take home to update. The problem with updating with an external connection is that Garmin pretty much requires that the thing be connected to a computer with internet connection which I don't have in or near my hangar. They are not as enlightened as Dynon in that regard. I have since purchased a new center panel and an Airgizmo for the GPS which allows you to simply remove it by pushing the button on the left side.

Now that I have installed a canopy lock I feel I can leave the airplane, brief periods anyway, without the GPS or the headset disappearing.

I have not installed this yet because of the hassle of pulling out the engine control and cabin heat cables. I am thinking about doing the Bill_H Center Panel Mod so the center panel can be removed without taking out the cables.

To clarify, I did angle my gps toward the left by cutting the bushings on the right side of the unit shorter. I like this small mod quite a bit. By doing this, a large portion of the right side of the gps is already protruding from the right side of the panel. When I release the lock on the left side of the mount, I have enough of the gps to grab with my fingertips and it pops right out. If done carefully, and filing just the area of the panels that interfere with the gps, you will not have any gaposis. It does take some trial and error, but the finish results are good.
Tony, what type of canopy lock did you use?

[Paris12Man]

I used the one "Jetguy" posted early in the sticky thread of modification to your ELSA. He has several posted pictures. My plane sits in my backyard in a locked hanger 99% of the time. For the rare times of parking outside for longer times, I do have a canopy cover made by "RDog" which hides those "wandering eyes". Nothing is fool proof, but I've never had any problems in the past leaving my headsets or IPad in the airplane while I have breakfast or lunch someplace.

I don't think I'm going to angle my equipment. I believe I have to widen the width of the existing hole to the rails for connection of the docking station, but the height not as much so the unit will stick out about a 1/4" or so. I'll just have to wait and see after I receive my docking station to know what I'm going to do.

I wanted a nice clean appearance on the original GPS installation so I had very close tolerances around the unit. That lead to my issues. I never had to remove equipment before for updates in any other airplane I owned, so this was a painful learning curve.

[RFSchaller]

I have an AirGizmo dock and cover I never used. If anybody wants them send me a PM. I'll sell them for $35 including postage.

Rich

[mrt890]

Rich PM sent on the Airgizmo

[Tony_T]

Originally Posted by Dave12

Tony, what type of canopy lock did you use?

Homemade:
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...2&postcount=14

[RFSchaller]

Mike, it's yours. Check your PMs.

Rich